Racing News round-upGrey Swallow's trainer Dermot Weld led the almost unanimous welcome to the news that the ground at the Curragh is now likely to be "good" for Sunday's Budweiser Irish Derby.
Weld had given the proviso that the leading home hope for the premier Classic wouldn't run if the going was too fast, but that will not now be an issue after over 25mms of rain fell on the Curragh in almost 24 hours.
"We had 19.2mms overnight and another 6.8mms up to the afternoon and the ground is now good on the round course. It's slightly on the easy side of good in the straight," said the Curragh manager Paul Hensey yesterday.
"No further significant rain is expected by the weekend and the weekend itself looks like it will be good. I think the going should be ideal.
"The Derby course will be used for the first time this year and there will be nine metres of fresh ground for Sunday," he added.
That was good news for John Gosden whose pair of Derby hopes, Percussionist and Day Flight, both relish a cut in the ground.
Grey Swallow is the shortest priced of the home team at 8 to 1 and the weather break is good news for the Weld team after their colt was unsuited by very fast ground in the Irish 2,000 Guineas.
"Good ground would be perfect. But I wouldn't want it go to extremes either way for him," Weld said last night.
The Godolphin hope Rule Of Law, supplemented into the Derby for €95,000, pleased his connections in a work out at Newmarket yesterday and his trainer Saeed bin Suroor expects a big run from the colt.
"We will have to meet the Epsom winner and third again but he will like the Curragh racetrack better than Epsom," said bin Suroor.
"He has improved since Epsom but this will be a tough race. He worked very good and I am happy with him. He went seven furlongs with Frankie (Dettori) who was happy too," he added.
Paddy Power reported support for Percussionist from 9 to 1 to 8 to 1 and eased the favourite North Light to 8 to 11 in line with most of the other firms.
One star likely to miss out on the weekend is Vinnie Roe whose weight for the Curragh Cup has changed Weld's mind about appearing.
"He is unlikely to run with 10-3. No other country in the world has horses having to carry more than 10st at Graded Stakes level and it's wrong that it is here. 10-3 is not a racing weight at Stakes level," Weld said.
Michael Kinane will ride Let The Lion Roar as he goes in search of third victory in the Irish Derby and he can warm up at Tipperary tonight with success on Cantari and Curzon Ridge.
Cantari should improve for her debut at Tralee while the champion jockey looks a significant booking for Curzon Ridge in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap.
Ladbrokes Derby betting: 8-11 North Light, 6 Let The Lion Roar, Percussionist, 7 Rule Of Law, 8 Grey Swallow, 12 Day Flight, 16 Five Dynasties, 25 bar.
